Immanuel’s consultant in the Vision for Ministry long-range planning process cautioned members that putting the plan into place will mean change, and that change can lead to anxiety.
But during his weekend visit March 12 — 13, Pastor Rick Rouse said that not changing is not an option.
“Congregations need to reinvent themselves,” Rouse told the 36 Immanuel leaders and others who met in a Saturday morning retreat.
He said the average lifespan for a congregation is 20 to 25 years. Unless it reinvents itself, the body begins a downward spiral. Most mainline congregations, he said, are either maintaining members or losing them.
But those that reinvent themselves with a focus on mission are gaining members, he said.
“Doing church the way we’ve always done it is not working so well anymore,” Rouse said during his Sunday morning sermon. He offered contrasts between congregations that are simply trying to maintain membership, and those with a focus on mission, suggesting that the mission model is the preferred model for growth.
For example, he said maintenance-focused congregations focus on how many visits the pastor makes while mission-focused congregations focus on how many disciples they’ve made.
Maintenance congregations are focused on being true to their past, while mission congregations are focused on being faithful to their future, Rouse said.
Members of maintenance congregations say to newcomers, “Let me introduce you to our members,” while those in mission congregations say, “Let me introduce you to our pastor.”
Maintenance congregations ask how many Lutherans live within 25 miles of the church and search for ways to get people to support their congregation, while mission congregations ask how many unchurched people live within 25 miles of the church and look for ways to support their community.
During his Sunday morning adult forum, Rouse reviewed the characteristics of churches based on average worship attendance. With an average of 220 people attending worship, Immanuel falls in the “program” category.
Such congregations are made up of small groups like choirs, Bible study groups, fellowship groups and so on. New members are intentionally assimilated into the congregation, and the church offers options for ministry programs including a variety of worship services. Program-size congregations are characterized by healthy, committed leadership with a team of clergy, staff and lay leaders working toward a common mission.
The pastor’s role in a program congregation is one of motivator and trust-builder, with a focus on staff and core leaders. Pastoral care is redefined to be a program rather than a person, and often Stephen Ministers step into that role. Administration becomes a big part of the pastor’s job.
Barriers to growth, Rouse said, come when 80 percent of the sanctuary’s choice seats are full for worship, and when the congregation is unclear about a vocation that calls it to make room for neighbors and serve a growing community.
In addition, he said growth is difficult when congregation doesn’t have the ministry structure or staff needed to grow.
As a rule of thumb, he said congregation’s need one full time program staff member for every 100 members who worship to maintain membership. They need to add a staff member for each 100 members they’d like to add. Interns, he said, should not be counted as program staff.
The good news is that additional paid program staff pay for themselves through membership growth and giving in about 12 to 18 months.
Rouse encouraged those at the adult forum to be optimistic.
“God’s not done with you yet,” he said. “God has a preferred and promised future for you.”
